Entrepreneurial Initiatives

NSITE has partnered with NIB and the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) to offer an entrepreneurial program to help people who are blind, visually impaired, and/or Veterans stand up their own business.  

Aspiring entrepreneurs will enter into this 9-month intensive program that prepares them to launch the business of their choice. Examples of business concepts include:

  • Re-sale of AbilityOne Products with the support of products with the support of NIB’s e-commerce solution and access to client networks.
  • Consulting services; and
  • Niche-market sales of proprietary products

Tuition covers:

  • Prerequisite Office technology proficiency training (Microsoft Office suite, meeting platforms, internet research, etc.) for users of assistive technologies
  • Business Basics foundational coursework:
    • Business Operations
    • Finance and Budgeting Essentials
    • Improving Decision Making
    • Marketing and Sales
  • Regularly scheduled virtual instructor-led (vILT) meetings with staff, mentors, and experts to deepen the learning and clarify questions
  • Wharton Business School: Entrepreneurship Specialization online curriculum
    • Developing the Opportunity
    • Launching Your Start-Up
    • Financing and Profitability
    • Entrepreneurship Specialization Capstone: Business Plan
  • E-Commerce Platform: Training and support for those entrepreneurs opting for a AbilityOne Product Resale business
  • Business Plan: Development of individual business plans with the support of a mentor
  • Start-Up Launch Support

For more information, contact:

Jonathan Lucus, jlucus@nsite.org
Marianne Haegeli, mhaegeli@nsite.org

Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB)
John Oliveira, john.oliveira@state.ma.us